Located in the Indian Ocean just Southwest of Sri Lanka, the Republic of the Maldives is a tropical archipelagic nation consisting of a collection of 26 atolls. The sands are white and the water so mind-blowingly clear and pristine, you can see the sea life swimming beneath it from the comfort of your over-water bungalow. There are many island resorts to choose from. You can walk completely around the edge of most of these tiny islands in about 5-10 minutes. I have been to the Maldives 3 times, and I can say it is an absolute paradise. It offers a feeling of tropical seclusion only few other island nations can offer. If you are looking for seclusion, a romantic getaway, or an unforgettable honeymoon experience… look no further.

Weather

In the Maldives, you can expect year long average temperatures around 85°F/30°C. As with most locations in the world, weather plays a huge part in travel plans. For many people, it can make or break a potentially memorable experience. The tropics are particularly prone to sudden weather changes. As with many tropical locations, there are dry seasons, wet seasons and the ultra-memorable monsoon seasons. You can save a small fortune by using the weather to your advantage.

  • May to November

This is the low season. Primarily because of heavy rainfall and some common thunderstorms. However, it comes with the benefit of less people, less money out of your pocket and great scuba conditions. Some rainfall may be heavy, but the storms tend to last maybe 20 or 30 minutes followed by sunshine. I prefer to go during this time. It offers me all the benefits listed above, but I also love a good quick rolling thunderstorm. It’s not uncommon to see a clear sunny Maldivian sky contrasted by a dark thunderstorm on the horizon. I have also visited the Maldives during this time and never saw one drop of rain. As with all things weather related, it’s usually unpredictable.

  • December to April

During this time, you can expect long sunny Maldivian days. You can also expect exorbitant prices, more people and less sea-life next to the reef. I prefer not going during this time as I love saving money, snorkeling, and feeling like I have the island to myself. You can expect the island resorts to be especially busy during the high-season between December and March.

 

Sunsets

First off, the pictures don’t do the Maldivian sunsets justice. The sunsets are astonishingly beautiful. Nowhere on Earth have I seen such combinations of purple, pink and orange. Perhaps this is the reason the sunset facing over-water bungalows and beach villas are a tad more pricey. I find that the sunsets during the low season are immensely more beautiful. If you are going as a couple, I can assure you it will be most memorable.

Getting to your island

Once your international flight lands in the capital city of Male, you will either take a boat or sea plane to your island depending on how far your island is in relation to Male. Most resorts will offer seaplane transport for you via Trans-Maldivian Airways. After booking your resort, they will contact you and coordinate everything for you. They will even have a resort representative meet you at the Male airport to guide you. Bear in mind that your resort price does not usually include the price of the transport to your island resort. Prices vary, so please contact the resort for pricing before you book.

Having said all of this, I’m willing to bet most of you have never flown on a seaplane before. I know I hadn’t until my first trip. It was a fun experience and another item checked off of my travel bucket list.

You’ve got to pay to play

There’s really no way around it. There are ways to save money, but you will likely be spending a fortune at the prestigious island resorts.

  • Nightly Rates

    Just look below at some of the nightly rates. Those are usually for the beach villas and not the over-water bungalows which can be a little pricier.

  • Food & Drink

Usually the food and drinks are not included unless you book your room with a full board. If you choose not to book with full board, expect to pay an average of $50-$150 a plate at the island’s specialty restaurants. Most island resorts offer a special romantic dinner on the beach package complete with your own gourmet chef and server. I have done one of these dinner packages, and it is memorable. If it isn’t memorable, the $500-$1000 price tag for that meal will be.

Also, since it is forbidden to bring your own alcohol to the Maldives, the resorts can charge a fortune for drinks.
All inclusive packages do exist, but I haven’t seen many. You can also typically save a few dollars paying for room service. But if you do that, you may be missing out on dining experiences like this

  • Activities

Most of the resort islands offer fun activities you usually have to pay for. Activities such as parasailing, jet-ski, boating, kayaking, guided snorkeling & scuba, full service spa and so much more. I try to take the scuba and snorkeling when possible. Some activities are almost cost prohibitive. I once asked how much for a half day of deep sea fishing. When the guide quoted me $1,500, I immediately told myself that deep sea fishing isn’t my calling in life and I moved on to more affordable options. Though the $500 day trip to find a whale shark was a worthwhile experience.

Is there a cheaper option?

Sure there is, but not on the resort islands. You can get a vacation rental or guest house on one of the local islands for reasonably cheap. But don’t expect the resort style luxury. Bear in mind that the local islands, like the main island Male, adhere to Islamic culture and alcohol will be strictly banned from the local islands.
OR…
You could do like I did on 2 of my 3 trips to the Maldives. Use rewards points! I used my travel rewards card combined with Expedia points, One World frequent flyer points, and my Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points. For both trips I used my points for the base nightly rate and the flights. I opted to pay for my meals. I ate at the restaurants a couple times, and I ate room service most days at about $100 a day per person.

Culture

Some people just want to get to their resort and stay there. Some people want to venture out. I encourage you to venture out. Most islands offer a day tour of one of the nearby local islands. Some resorts are close enough to Male to take a day trip there. You will see things you never thought existed such as an ancient mosque made out of sea coral. The Maldivian people are friendly for the most part. The food on the local islands are primarily seafood with influences from India and Sri Lanka.
As always, please respect the culture and the people you come across while traveling. Being in an Islamic country, try to respect the local tradition. This is especially true during the holy month of Ramadan. I try not to visit the Maldives during Ramadan. Something about laying next to a pool half naked drinking a mojito and slamming down some chicken wings doesn’t seem right when the guy who gave them to me has to fast all day. But that’s just me. The resort workers are usually understanding that Western culture is different from their own.

What not to bring

  • Alcohol. Though you can buy and consume alcohol on the resorts, it is strictly forbidden on Male and the local islands. You will need to purchase all of your alcohol when you arrive at the resort.
  • Illegal Drugs. Do I really have to say this?

What to bring

Since everything is ludicrously expensive on the resort islands, I suggest you bring the following. If you can think of anything else, please suggest a change on this page.

  • Sunscreen
  • *Rash guard (the sun can be brutal. especially while snorkeling)
  • Snorkel
  • Diving shoes (you don’t want to step on a sea urchin with your bare feet. I made that mistake and paid for it)
  • Swimwear
  • Waterproof camera
  • hat
  • As always, try not to buy souvenirs in the overpriced resort gift shop. The Male airport will have plenty of souvenir shops when you leave the Maldives.

For most people, the Maldives is a once in a lifetime trip. This is probably why it is a prime honeymoon spot. Visiting can be affordable, but saving those travel points is a must. There are so many wonderful travel locations in the world, but if you ever get a chance and have the means, I recommend you go to the Maldives. I promise you will be left speechless. I know I was when I first visited.